Mack Trucking Along On Defense

Sports -

September 24, 1992|By Anita Cechowski Of The Sentinel Staff

Stacey Mack has been running down the opposition's defense without much trouble. He's giving the opposing team's offense fits as well.

This season, Boone High School's leading rusher has taken on a new challenge - he's joined the defensive ranks. And he is doing rather well according to coach Phil Ziglar. The coaches decided before the season that in order to be among the best in the Metro Conference they needed to have their best players on the field at all times. For Mack, the assignment was free safety.

The additional duty doesn't seem to have effected his rushing game. In Boone's opener against Bishop Moore, he ran for 203 yards on eight carries and three touchdowns. The total rushing yardage for the Braves that game was 287. Last week against Colonial, his numbers were 11 carriesfor 124 yards, two touchdowns. Combined, he's brought down seven ball carriers, recovered a fumble and assisted on six tackles.

Opponents breath easy this week since Mack and the Braves have an open date.

''It's going to give us our legs back,'' Mack said.

He said he's not worried about having the week off when he's been on a roll.

''We're all pumped up about playing Winter Park,'' Mack said of the Oct. 2 meeting. ''We're going to be ready. It's a big rivalry, especially after they beat us so bad last year.''

The additional role of free safety, said Mack, has been beneficial as well as an easy adjustment. He said when he was on the sidelines after an offensive series, he'd watch the free safety, he was interested in what they did. He also has the benefit of a better understanding of the defense, which means when he lines up in the backfield, he has the ability to read the defense probably better than most backs.

''He has a desire to succeed,'' Ziglar said. ''He's a well-rounded athlete. A good student. A good person.''

Against Winter Park, Mack is going to have to be as outstanding on defense as on offense. He said stopping Terrence Foy is going to be a must if the Braves are going to get past Winter Park. He also said by the end of the season he's going to rush past Foy.

Said Mack: ''I want to show other schools that this is a good football team.''